Hagerstown woman, 71, killed in head-on crash

Smithsburg man faces charges

May 05, 2008

CHEWSVILLE - A 71-year-old Hagerstown woman was killed Sunday night in a head-on collision on Jefferson Boulevard (Md. 64) in the area of Twin Springs Drive, Maryland State Police said.

Colleen Joy Parks, 71, was pronounced dead at Washington County Hospital following the crash that took place just after 9 p.m., police said in a news release.

The driver of the other vehicle, Kenneth Lee McDowell, 70, of Smithsburg, was charged with manslaughter and with homicide by motor vehicle while intoxicated, among other offenses, police said.

Police say McDowell was driving east on Jefferson Boulevard when the 2001 Cadillac DeVille he was driving crossed the center line and struck a 2003 Hyundai Accent driven by Parks.

There were no passengers in either vehicle, police said.

McDowell refused medical treatment at the accident scene, police said. He was found to have been drinking prior to the collision and had a blood alcohol content higher than the legal limit, police said.

After consultation with the Washington County State's Attorney's Office, McDowell was charged with negligent manslaughter and negligent homicide by motor vehicle while intoxicated, as well as related DUI and traffic offenses.

McDowell was being held Monday morning at the Washington County Detention Center in lieu of $100,000 bond.

Fire and rescue personnel from the Smithsburg Volunteer Fire Department and Smithsburg Emergency Medical Services responded to the incident.

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